Walter Niklaus Zajac passed into eternity peacefully in his sleep at his home on October 4, 2026 in Playa del Rey, California at the age of 76.
Born in war torn Kassel, West Germany on August 26, 1950 to Wilhelm Friedrich Reichert and Elisabeth Marie Zajac, Walter (fka Bruce Kent) lived a life like no other. He was an orphan, immigrant, veteran of the Air Force, a rock star, psychic medium, Reiki healer, NLP practitioner, athlete, author, composer, business owner, comedian, artist, screenwriter, web designer, and a trusted and wise friend and advisor to many.
Orphaned at the age of 5, he was adopted by an American family who changed his name to Bruce Foster Kent and brought him to the States.
Growing up, he was a talented football player but his real passion was music. Starting with the clarinet, he traveled and performed with his high school marching band as well as with smaller jazz ensembles. All the while, the instrument he really wanted to play was the drums, and he picked up a pair of sticks whenever he could.
During the Vietnam war, he joined the Air Force band, where a chance encounter with future Tower of Power drummer David Garibaldi set Walter’s drumming career in motion. Garibaldi took Walter under his tutelage, expanding his knowledge of the drums and preparing him to ultimately take over some of David’s drumming gigs so that Garibaldi could leave the service and form Tower of Power.
After his own discharge, Walter was a sought after drummer and played in many different groups in the genres of funk, soul, rock and jazz.
In 1980, he moved his family to West Germany, where he was able to connect with his roots as a German and earn a living as a musician. His family eventually returned to the States in 1984, while Walter stayed in West Germany.
He traveled all over Europe playing in show bands and eventually joined pop superstars Blind Date, who had a major German Top 40 hit with “Your Heart Keeps Burning” in 1985.
Walter returned to the United States in 1989 where he was able to be nearer to his son Andrew and continue his music career. He was also able to guide Andrew on his own musical career, following in his father’s footsteps as a drummer. The two forged a powerful bond and many shared experiences during this time that continued through the rest of Walter’s life.
From a very young age, Walter had a strong psychic connection and was able to tap into knowledge that seemed impossible to know. A life-changing trip back to his roots in Germany in 1995 set him on the path to change his name back to Walter Zajac (his birth name) and embark on a career helping people as a psychic medium.
Expanding upon his natural psychic abilities, he studied tirelessly and became a Certified Professional Tarot Reader, Certified NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Practitioner, and a Certified Reiki Master, among many other studies to help him to reach and help those who trusted him and his guidance.
Walter truly lived his life by these principles he learned and advised others on, walking a path of enlightenment, power, wisdom, understanding, peace, compassionate healing, friendship, honesty, playfulness and love. He wore his heart on his sleeve, lived his life to the fullest, had an infectious and disarming laugh, and made absolutely certain that anyone he loved had zero doubt that he loved them.
He built his PsychicWalter.com website and for over 26 years acted as a psychic medium, trusted advisor, Reiki healer, and guide to his many grateful clients.
At the time of his passing, Walter had just completed a treatment for a mini-series of his 2019 self-published autobiographical historical thriller novel “They Came – Beyond Deja Vu.”
Walter will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his son Andrew Erich Kent, daughter in law Cherie Kent and grandchild Noelle Taylor Kent in addition to his many friends, colleagues, family, and clients.
A Celebration of Life for Walter is in the planning stages and set to take place in Los Angeles at a future date. Details will be announced when finalized.